Finding your soul mate online is a wondrous thing; however,
there is the potential for danger. While you have access to a
wide variety of people, you also have the impending complication
of meeting those who are not what they seem to be--there are
some tips of the trade, though, to help you become more
discerning with your choices. These tips can help you stay safe
and stay away from men and women who are not what you're looking
for.
Tip One: Start Slowly. There are all kinds of people on the Love
Empire; not all of these people, however, will be right for you.
Take your time--if you meet someone and start up a conversation,
proceed with discretion. The person at the other end may not be
who they claim to be; take your time and watch for
inconsistencies or odd behavior. If something bothers you,
simply walk away. Do not rush into any relationship without
thinking first.
Tip Two: Protect Your Identity. One of the benefits of dating
online is that you can get to know someone based solely upon
their personality and not deal with the more social conscious
real world. It is up to you to decide when and how you reveal
who you really are--be careful, however. If someone receives
your personal information, they could use it against you. If a
member tries to pressure you into giving out your last name,
email address, home address, phone number, place of work or any
other identifying information, then walk away.
Tip Three: Use Common Sense. When speaking to someone through
the Love Empire, do not throw good judgment away simply because
this is an online service. What may sound wonderful on the
screen can be masking something not so wonderful in reality. Use
caution and do not fall in love with the first profile you read.
Take your time and go through all of your potential choices.
Then, after you've researched enough, go from there. It is a
common occurrence for people to "fall in love" after only one
conversation. Do not do this! Retain your common sense and view
online dating as you view real-world dating. You do not have to
love every profile you read.
Tip Four: Request A Photo. If you meet someone, chat with them,
and see the beginning of a relationship forming, then you might
want to request a photo. Often, this can tell you more about the
person than any email or instant message. First of all, it can
keep them from lying about their looks; secondly, you will know
if you're attracted to them in the physical sense; finally, if
they continually refuse to send a photo, there might be a reason
other than embarrassment. Proceed carefully.
Tip Five: Pay Attention. This is, possibly, the most important
tip you could follow. In an email, any one can sound
wonderful--in real life, it's much more difficult. When you are
becoming involved with someone on the Love Empire, watch for
'red flags', or odd behavior. For example, if during an online
session, your date suddenly becomes angry or aggressive toward
you and then, won't explain why, you should take this into
consideration. If one sentence could upset him/her in such a
way, it might be cause to worry. Also, pay attention to any
attempts to pressure or control you. For instance, if your date
is constantly making demeaning comments about you, there is a
strong chance that he/she is trying to manipulate you into
feeling inferior; therefore, you become an easier target to
control. Finally, watch out for inconsistencies with information
that your date provides you or evasive answers to questions. If
your date displays any of the following problems, it would be
well-advised to reconsider your relationship:
1. He/she provides inconsistent information about age,
interests, appearance, marital status, profession, employment,
etc. 2. He/she refuses to speak to you on the phone after you
have established an 3. online relationship; or, he/she will only
speak on a strangely specific 4. timeframe. 5. He/she will not
answer any direct questions about themselves. They will 6.
either give you a vague answer or will simply turn the question
back to you. 7. He/she will only provide photos of large groups
of people, making it 8. impossible for you to find them.
Online dating can be an exciting and fulfilling part of your
life; just remember to follow these tips and act accordingly.